Houston Rockets Team Report – November 22

(Sports Network) – The Houston Rockets were defeated by the Portland Trail
Blazers, 85-78, on Friday at the Rose Garden.

Yao Ming led the Rockets with 21 points, but scored just two points in the
fourth quarter. Cuttino Mobley had 17 for Houston, which was attempting to
capture its third straight win.

Houston came into the fourth quarter trailing by seven, but pulled within
three at 71-68 on a dunk by Yao — his only basket of the final period — with
5:45 left in the contest.

After the two teams traded jumpers to keep the margin at three, Maurice Taylor
hit a 16-footer from the right wing to pull the Rockets within 73-72.

Damon Stoudamire, though, started a 10-2 Portland burst with a three-pointer
and Jeff McInnis finished the spurt with a big three-pointer and 12-foot
jumper to make it 83-74 with a minute left to play.

Houston’s Steve Francis ended with just four points on 2-of-9 shooting.

The Rockets are off until Monday when they visit the Los Angeles Clippers in
the second of a five-game road trip.